A newsletter for parents, students and the local community July 2014 News from the Principal I would like to reflect upon some of other key events and activities that have taken place over the past term. Another academic year comes to an end Year 11 through which much success has been achieved across the Academy at all levels, Since Easter the key priority has been on supporting Year 11 both within and outside of the classroom. in all subjects through the best possible teaching in class, complimented by an intensive programme of intervention Since becoming Cliff Park Ormiston ensuring there is a balance between pressure and support. Academy, a Progress Board has been During the first half of the summer term all staff worked established to externally monitor extremely hard both within and out of the classroom. progress of the new Academy. As Intervention strategies were put in place to focus on Principal, myself and the Vice supporting students at all levels through targeted, small Principals are challenged and offered group tuition, 1-1 tuition, a programme of boosters prior to all support where required in relation to exams and through individualised support for key students to the key purposes of the Academy; ensure they achieved a suite of at least 8 qualifications, namely to raise achievement and including where appropriate to vocational courses. improve, where required, teaching and learning so that it is at least good across the Academy. We Students have now completed their GCSE examinations. have worked with consultants in science and languages Their work ethic and behaviour has been excellent recently following internal reviews and much good work has throughout. The Academy’s projected attainment figures been completed in preparation for the new Academy year. have improved to well above those of 2013 and are predicted to close the gap towards national benchmarks. All staff are working extremely hard in supporting continual progress. Since half term the emphasis has shifted to self- Progress figures are predicted to be close to or above evaluation at a whole Academy level, involving staff at all national figures – this represents at least ‘GOOD’ progress levels and more recently using this to put in place an when consideration is taken with regard to the starting points Academy Improvement Plan to support continuing our as measured by KS2 attainment. journey of improvement to ‘Good’ and beyond. Improvement has been secured through an intensive During the summer break a number of internal improvements programme of intervention across Year 11 led by Ms Poulter are planned to take place, these include:- and Mr Pillar. Students have responded positively about these interventions in their exit interviews. A number of 1 Refurbishment main pupil toilets year provisions (GCSE and BTEC) were introduced to Refurbishment Food technology ensure that virtually all students have the appropriate CCTV system update balance of 8 high value qualifications. This has helped our Rm 21 conversion into a Yr 11 Learning Zone students to secure places at college. Only 10 students (our Car Park Fencing & gates Alterations to car park & driveway to allow most vulnerable) should now achieve less than 8 Academy buses to pick up students on site rather qualifications overall. Of these 10, all are on track to attain 5 than on Kennedy Avenue qualifications and most will not drop below 6. New ICT Server Wallscapes around the Academy in each curriculum The Year 11 Prom was held at Somerleyton Hall on area Thursday 26th June – this was a fitting celebration to end Diary Room to support student voice activities their time at our Academy and to wish them all success in Staff room refurbishment their future studies. The students were dressed impeccably and behaved with maturity and responsibility throughout the evening. It was a pleasure to spend time with them. Extended Services beyond the Academy Wellesley Sports Ground. All performed with credit for the day Academy and we emerged as overall winners for the 8th successive year – winning in all four year groups - well done! This term, Mr Doggett has arranged for an extended number th of non-sporting activities to take place. Recording Studio and During the week beginning 30 June around 50 of our Caking and Baking have had a cost implication, with all other students represented the EAST in the Norfolk School games activities offered on a voluntary basis by staff leading the held at UEA Sports Park. sessions. Recording Studio was made available free of Sports Day charge to all students, using a small budget created through pupil premium funding and pupil premium students have Sports day was held on Friday 4th July– this involved all benefitted in cookery classes by having their ingredients paid students choosing a sport to take part in throughout the day for by the Academy. One-off events have also taken place at representing their house and included; volleyball, badminton, the weekend – a highly successful and popular ‘First Aid in a tennis, football, rounders, cricket, and netball. Despite the Day’ course run by St. John’s Ambulance took place one hot weather the atmosphere was excellent throughout the Saturday in June. day and the overall winners were Darwin house. The Academy has continued to develop links with local The Academy’s 10th annual Sports Dinner coordinated by business during the year. Several meetings have taken Jon King and Christine Rigby was held on Saturday 5th July. place, with between 15-20 businesses/further education Over 350 students attended along with staff, parents and providers now in regular contact. Three local businesses governors. It was a great event with many awards took part in a Dragons Den activity aimed at Year 8 and Year presented culminating in the David Philpot award receiving a 9 students. The event was called ‘Tenner’ as business standing ovation when presented to Sigourney Nixon by Mr leaders selected ten student businesses to invest £10 in, King. with the objective of making as much money as possible throughout the month of May. This will be expanded in 2014- Little Shop of Horrors 15 to include more student businesses and with business leaders acting as mentors throughout the process. This production has been enjoyed by packed audiences for three nights (Friday, Monday and Tuesday). It has been The ‘Children’s Coach’ (Ms Bivens) continues to engage with really pleasing to see a production of this standard take students at Cliff Park Ormiston Academy, but also our feeder place again at our Academy. The students performing have primary schools/academies. The ‘Excellence Programme’ been outstanding and I would like to thank all staff and lasts for eight weeks and engaged 15 primary Academy students who have made such a memorable event possible. students this year with a focus on both literacy and sport. A special thanks goes to Miss Maughan and Mrs Clayton for This has included the ‘Moving on up’ programme for students their hard work and commitment over recent weeks. in Year 6. Primary students were selected by feeder schools/academies based on vulnerability regarding Work Experience transition. Previous student beneficiaries of the programme All Year 10 students completed one week’s work experience act as mentors for each new cohort of vulnerable students last week (14th to 18th July) at a wide range of different who then plan and participate in the activities alongside this placements locally and further afield. Feedback from group. Training on being calm and how to deal with anxiety employers has been very positive. has been completed and the Children’s Coach now has its very own mascot in the form of the Confident Cockerel to inspire the students engaged in this initiative. Staffing Update:- The most recent success this year has been the selection of 3 of our student mentors by a national panel, for a three A number of staff will be leaving our Academy this year: week scholarship to India during the Academy summer holiday. This will involve establishing a new school and there Mrs Ayub has been appointed Curriculum lead for ICT in a were only 20 places throughout the country, demonstrating new Academy in London and I am sure she will make a big just how successful the Children’s Coach has become at Cliff impact. Ms Noler has chosen to take early retirement Park. following a long time teaching maths at the Academy, she has always built positive relationships with those she has Cliff Park Summer Fair taught and I am sure many will have fond memories of her lessons. Mr Harrison has taken retirement on the grounds The Friends of Cliff Park organised and ran a very successful of ill health following his recent heart attack and stroke, he summer fair on Saturday 28th June which although the will be sadly missed and we wish him a speedy return to full weather was poor was very well attended. They raised the fitness. Miss Bracher has been appointed as Head of grand total of £1200 towards supporting the Academy, thank languages at Attleburgh Academy following a successful 3 you all for your support. A big thank you to all those involved years teaching German and French, I am sure she has the in the planning and the running of the day, we look forward to potential to make a great difference in her new role. Mr another brilliant day next year. Furse following his recent illness will also be leaving and I Athletics am sure many past and present students will miss his unique style of music teaching and organisation of our Christmas On Tuesday 24th June over 100 students represented our Carol services. Mrs Haycock has been covering the Academy at the area athletics championships held at the absence of Mr Furse this year and has provided strong continuity for our students in music during this time.